Figured wheeled toy



Nov. 20, 1945. F. TowNsLEY FIGURED WHEELED TOYS Filed Sept, 1 1, 1944 Patented -Nov. 20, 1945 22:38:),568 vFIGURED".vvHEELED TOY Fredie Towns'ley, l' Toronto, iontaro, Canada, .t assignor .to .Holgatefrothers Company, :Kana

Pa., a.- corporation `Application"September 11, 1944, Serial No. 553,543'

410vv Claims. ('Cl.- 46i10.6)

This invention relates to improvements in wheeled toys,V and .more yparticularly Lto .gure'd wheeled toys of the `typehaving a low center of gravityto preventthe same from toppling over.

The primaryobject of ntheinventiori is to provide a supporting structure 'for various vvfigures,

suchas animals, birds, etc., in which the figure may rock from side to side while the toy is traveling but will not topple over when the toy is pulled. suddenly to one side or another, in turning a corner or the like.

With the foregoing object outlined and with other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described in de tail, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a toy in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a detail taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, 4 designates a longitudinal body of any suitable cross-section, cylindrical for example, preferably provided with a longitudinal slot 5 at its top for the reception of the base of gure 6 which may be in the shape of a bird, animal, etc.

The body is arranged between and pivotally connected to a pair of end structures 1, having a polygonal shape in front elevation, triangular, for example. Each side of the end structure is notched lengthwise thereof, as indicated at 8, for the reception of a wheel or roller 9. Each of the latter may be provided with an axle I0, the ends of which extend into slits II cut into the end structure at the ends of each notch 8. Pins I2 anchored in the end structure and crossing the slits, may be employed to retain the axles in place. It will be obvious from Fig. 2 that each end structure may travel on any one of its rollers 9 and, therefore, if a child in pulling the toy by means of a cord or the like, moves the front end of the toy to one side or the other, the forward end structure will rotate about its axis and simply bring another one of the rollers into engagement with the ground surface.

A simple means for pivotally connecting the body to the end structures is best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, and may consist of screws I3 which pass through washers I4; the center of the end structures; through washers I5; and finally into the body above the center of gravity of the latter,

as indicated at I 6. VAs the `washers areloose onn the screws, it willbemani'fest that the body may rock about the co-axial screws and eitherend structure canrotate about a screw whilefthe'toy figure '6 is prevented from toppling over. The washer at the'fro'nt end of the'toy is preferably integral with `a forwardly Vprojecting lug'I'l` hav ing' anaperture I'8 for use in tying one end of la string to the same.

From the foregoing it will be understood that while the toy is being drawn forwardly, the parts l and may rock about the axes of the screws I3, and then if the toy is pulled suddenly to one side or the other, one or both of the end struc tures will rotate about such axes to bring a different one of its wheels 9 into engagement with the supporting surface over which the toy is drawn.

The parts 4, 6, 'I and 9 may be readily manufactured from wood, but it is manifest that other materials may be employed if desired.

While I have disclosed what I now consider to be a preferred embodiment of the invention, in such manner that the same may be readily understood, it is apparent that changes may be made in the details disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by U. S. Letters Patent is:

1. A wheeled toy comprising a longitudinal body and transverse end structures, the body being pivotally supported by the end structures for rocking movement about an axis arranged lengthwise of the body, and having its center of gravity positioned below said axis, each end structure being of substantially polygonal shape in elevation and provided with supporting wheels journalled in each edge portion thereof, the axes of the wheels being positioned at angles to one another and arranged in a plane perpendicular to the axis about which the body rocks.

2. A wheeled toy as claimed in claim 1, in which the body is substantially cylindrical in cross-section and said longitudinal axis is larranged above the axis of the cylinder.

3. A wheeled toy comprising a, longitudinal body and transverse end structures, means pivotally supporting the body by the end structures for rocking movement about an axis arranged lengthwise of the body, the center of gravity of said body being positioned below said axis, said means being arranged at the centers of the end structures, and wheels supporting each end structure and having their axes arranged at angles to one another and in a plane perpendicular to the axis about which the body rocks.

4. A wheeled toy as claimed in claim 1, in which an end structure is provided with a notch for the reception of a wheel, the wheel being provided with an axle extending from the ends of the wheel into slits in the end structure at the ends of said notch, and means for holding the axle in said slits, Y -Q 5. A wheeled-toy asclaimed in claim-1, in which the end structures are connected to the body by assasea pivot members carrying anti-friction elements arranged between the body and the end struc,-

tures. i 6. A wheeled toy comprising anlongitudinal body and transverse endstructures, the bodyf` being substantially cylindrical in cross-section and being pivotally supportedby. the end structures for rocking movementI about'an axis arthe ends thereof, the body being pivotally supported by the end structures for rocking movement about the axis arranged lengthwise of the body and passing through the centers of the end structures, the center of gravity of the body being positioned below said axis, and a plurality of supporting wheels connected to edge portions of each end structure and having axes arranged at angles to onelangther., 3^, I -1 f wheeled".V .toy comprising. long'itudinal body and transverse end structures, the body )being pivotally supported by the end structures,

for rocking movement about an axis arranged lengthwiseof the body, and having its center of `vgravity ypositioned .below said axis, and wheels supporting each-ofthe end structures and having their axes Ypositioned at angles to one another. Y 9. Awheeled toy as claimed in claim 1 in which a toy ligure is mounted upon and extends up- 

